MikeLigalig.com

By Ven Arigo
Bohol Standard

Boholanos are set to run in the simultaneous nationwide marathon for blood and the country’s title bid for the world’s Red Cross volunteer capital in the universal volunteer celebration in December.

The Red Cross Million Volunteer Run (MVR) can gather as many as two million running blood donors nationwide, hopefully breaking all world records of largest marathons ever assembled.

The event aims to build the Red Cross 1+43, an army of one leader and 43 member humanitarian volunteers in each barangay in Bohol and the entire country who respond to disasters and lives at risk, donate blood and alleviate human suffering.

The campaign is also known as Red Cross 143, the numerical way of saying “I love you,” thereby suggesting love and care for humanity in suffering and human lives at risk.

With 44 volunteers in each of the 42,000 barangays in the country, there will already be 1.8 million volunteers nationwide who are potential participants to the historic marathon for humanitarian cause.

Bohol Red Cross board chair Gov. Edgar Chatto is eager to maximize local participation to the event as it complements with the program to organize and reactivate the blood council here.

He presided over the board meeting on Tuesday during which MVR regional coordinator and Lapulapu City Red Cross Administrator Vic Jay Gonzal presented the mechanics of ambitious event. Among the directors of the board are Red Cross-Bohol Administrator Nenita Briones and Philippine Gift of Life President/Chief Executive Officer Francisca Baluyot, the former longest-serving Red Cross head here.

The marathon will be held on December 4 to coincide with the marking on the next day of the International Volunteer Day.

It will also highlight the 10th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration of the International Year of Volunteers.

Pursuant to the Red Cross 1+43, each barangay will have one volunteer leader and 43 members who not just respond to blood donation calls or serve in blood-letting activities.

They will be trained and equipped for disaster risk prevention, mitigation and response.

The marathon will thus likewise heighten public awareness to reduce disaster risks and the vulnerability of the community in the great interest of saving lives.

The success of the unprecedented run for life can help project and attain the target of the ambitious blood program in the province as Chatto would have blood supply ready and accessible.

Chatto vowed full support to improve the blood program facilities and capability of both the Red Cross and as many hospitals.

These hospitals include Bohol’s biggest, the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital, and the devolved ones which Chatto also wants to have competent diagnostic facilities, laboratories and manpower.

In totality, the governor would want the blood program practiced and coordinated competently and harmoniously in Bohol.

Organizers of the humanitarian marathon encouraged the Boholanos join the event which will have simultaneous runs in not just key cities and municipalities across the country.

As the spearheading agency of the event, Chatto advised the Red Cross to present and promote the MVR in the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) Provincial Congress this mid-week and the next meeting of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP).

To achieve its noble goal, Red Cross will collect P500 “registration fee” from each marathon participant, particularly the adult and professional.

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=43893.0